IN Brief:
- Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I is investing £25m at Coleford as part of a £57m supply chain programme.
- The “Apollo 5” aseptic line is designed for up to 55,000 bottles per hour with fast brand changeovers.
- Bottle cleaning uses heat and pressurised air, targeting lower energy and water use than older systems.
Suntory Beverage & Food Great Britain & Ireland is investing £25 million in a new high-speed aseptic production line at its Coleford factory, with the company targeting first production in early 2027.
Suntory says the new line — known as “Apollo 5” — will replace two older Ribena lines that currently separate concentrate and ready-to-drink production. The company says consolidating formats onto a single line will reduce operational complexity and improve flexibility across its portfolio, with the new system also able to run Lucozade.
The line is expected to deliver up to 55,000 bottles per hour, with rapid changeovers between Lucozade and Ribena on the same equipment. The upgrade is being delivered as part of a wider supply chain investment programme at Coleford, with the broader figure at over £57 million in the site’s 80th year of operation.
The line uses aseptic technology and will clean bottles using heat and pressurised air rather than water, reducing the energy and water required during filling. The company also links the investment to a previously announced sustainability project to electrify the site and reduce reliance on a gas turbine.
Elise Seibold, chief operating officer at Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, said: “This next chapter is about investing in our factory to strengthen the future of two iconic British brands, Lucozade and Ribena.” Seibold added that the £25 million line “reinforces our commitment to the Forest of Dean in the South West”.
Suntory also forecasts local economic activity during delivery of the project, stating that £2.1 million is expected to be spent with organisations across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and South Wales during construction. Clearance of old lines is already underway, with work on Apollo 5 due to begin in 2026.
Karl Ottomar, supply chain director at Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, said: “We’re not just replacing factory lines, we’re embracing new technology to future proof our operations and make them more efficient.”
